Vilma’s strong statement would have been more convincing in early March

Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2012, 6:43 PM EDT

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Unlike the suspensions imposed against various non-players involved in the Saints’ bounty system, each of whom admitted to their involvement, it’s impossible to assess whether the punishment of the current and former Saints players is fair without knowing whether the players are indeed guilty. The NFL thinks they are, and the NFLPA’s various comments strongly suggest that the players contend they aren’t.

Vilma’s name first emerged on March 2, via the “confidential” NFL Security memo that explained he offered $10,000 to anyone who knocked former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC title game. So why did it take Vilma two months to respond?

It’s possible that Vilma was advised by his lawyer or by the NFLPA to say nothing while the decision on discipline was pending, but is that how truly innocent people behave? Most would say that someone wrongfully accused of misconduct would shout his innocence from the proverbial rooftops, welcoming any opportunity to prove that he isn’t guilty.

Instead, Vilma and the three other players declined an opportunity to meet with the Commissioner to persuade him face-to-face that they did nothing wrong.

That doesn’t mean we believe Vilma is guilty as charged. But his strong and clear and forceful statement would have been far more convincing on March 2 than on May 2.

Moreover, it’s possible that Vilma’s statement was carefully crafted to provide a safe harbor. He says that he “never paid, or intended to pay” $10,000 to anyone who knocked Warner or Favre or anyone else out of a game. Vilma doesn’t deny making the offer, perhaps as some sort of mechanism for getting his teammates appropriately “fired up” for the playoff games. If Vilma is entirely and completely innocent, common sense says that his statement would have used the phrase “never paid, or offered to pay” the money.

We’ll nevertheless continue to keep an open mind, and we hope that the evidence from both sides eventually will be available for public scrutiny. There’s simply no way of knowing who’s right and who’s wrong on this one without having some opportunity to objectively scrutinize the proof, or lack of it.

70 responses to “Vilma’s strong statement would have been more convincing in early March”

Ed Werder just said on ESPN Sportscenter that his source believes the case was largely concocted by the NFL and that no bounty or even “pay for performance” program existed in 2010 or 2011.

The only evidence of any scheme was during the 2009 season, when supposedly Williams supplied Vilma with the supposed 10,000 bounty on Favre to get the locker room fired up. The money was returned to Williams pocket afterward.

Just a head’s up, the readers aren’t COMPLETE morons. Every article about the Saints posted in the last two months has had a very clear negative, guilty-as-charged undertone. Bias sells more than neutrality and you’re all very aware of that.

Didn’t this guy say he was bracing for a 2(ish) game suspension? An innocent man wouldn’t have gladly accepted a suspension. Seems like he got more than he was prepared for and suddenly he’s “innocent.”

“It’s possible that Vilma was advised by his lawyer or by the NFLPA to say nothing while the decision on discipline was pending, but is that how truly innocent people behave? Most would say that someone wrongfully accused of misconduct would shout his innocence from the proverbial rooftops, welcoming any opportunity to prove that he isn’t guilty.”

Not saying that Vilma is innocent…but I would think that coming out and denying something before you were formally accused of it would usually seem more suspicious. Vilma was accused in the court of public opinion but was not ever (to our knowledge) formally accused by the league.

New_Orleans_Saints_Vilma_128804491_620x350 Getty Images

“Unlike the suspensions imposed against various non-players involved in the Saints’ bounty system, each of whom admitted to their involvement, it’s impossible to assess whether the punishment of the current and former Saints players is fair without knowing whether the players are indeed guilty.”

This is a pretty poorly written and inaccurate statement. At no point has ANYONE admitted yet to involvement in BOUNTY system.

Vilma’s statement is not at all “late”. Until today, what he purported to do only came from leaked confidential reports and/or anonymous sources. Today, the NFL issued a statement so today is the day to issue his own statement.

The NFL has to put up now and they’d better be prepared to reveal their sources. Vilma has a right to see the evidence against him.

Im not even mad.We really got off easy because with all the players that were involved only 2 that are still playing for the saints got suspended and the only bad suspension is vilma getting suspended for a year.As for will smith getting suspended for 4 games,thats like a vaction for him.we have good players like turk mcbride and greg romeus stepping up until he comes back.An as far as vilma.he didnt do anything last year anyway.His productivity is falling off.WE have curtis lofton,chris chamberlain,david hawthorne and Junior Gallette who all have at least 70 tackles and plus turnovers last year who will take his spot.So dont worry everyone.The Saints will overcome this and wont lie down.We will be even better than last year.Plus the money we save by not paying vilms for a year we can use towards restructuring Drew Brees contract sonce its in the same pool.Who Dat!!

Vilma, Smith, Hargrove, and Fujita all got different punishments for the same thing. Don’t no where the law stands on this, but it seems Goodall’s decisions are based on his moods, and not the evidence. I hope The courts side with Vilma, instead of a moody boss, this will help all the working stiff with horrible bosses.

Roger – you played favorites, and now it’s going to come back to haunt you. Kraft and Bowlen got their hands slapped when their employees were obviously cheating by spying on other teams’ practices with videocams. But Tom Benson, who is not part of the ownership exclusive inner circle, has had his entire franchise destroyed by penalties for a scheme that was far less harmful to the integrity of the game.

Now, Vilma and others are going to file lawsuits, and ask a lot of uncomfortable questions…

MDD913 – it cannot be abuse of power if said power was in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. All off-field issues go through the commissioners office only. It is not Goodell’s fault that the PA did not negotiate something different. As to answering for his falsehoods, to what are you referring to? The acceptance of guilt by both Payton and Williams? Did Goodell make those up? There is a lot to this whole story that has not made its way to the media and probably never will.

Unfortunately for the players they were advised by someone to not talk and that works when it is a court of Law mostly but not when it is something like NFL discipline. The NFL does not have to presume innocence until proven guilty. By not talking to Goodell they were not able to present a different story. It is possible that when they do sit down their story may persuade a lesser punishment.

No one is truly innocent in all of this. I suspect every team in the NFL had a bounty system at some point or another, and the NFL has known about this for decades. Only now, with the threat of litigation at its throat has the NFL done something about it.

The NFL is just as guilty as any coach, GM, or player. Since the NFL is its own judge, jury, and executioner, its up to the fans to pass judgment upon them and not allow the NFL to get away with this holier than thou stance they’ve seemed to take in regards to their role in all of this.

You people are delusional. They got busted, they are paying the price, now move on. Do you think someone in the position of commish of one of the most the powerful organizations in American would just make it all up? First Williams was innocent, you cried from the tops of mountains. Now it’s the players. I will laugh full bellied if they have something as damning as the video on Williams.

I’m not implying that other teams/players haven’t participated in similar activities, but you have to send a strong message to prevent it from continuing to occur.

You’re going to have a lost season or two, your team should recover in a few years. You just won a super bowl. Be happy with what you’ve got. Us reasonable people know that swamp people won’t understand this though. Enjoy your gumbo while the Saints go 3 – 13 this year. The only thing that could make this more interesting is if you didn’t have a first rounder next year…….

‘youallrfools says: “You’re going to have a lost season or two, your team should recover in a few years. You just won a super bowl. Be happy with what you’ve got. Us reasonable people know that swamp people won’t understand this though. Enjoy your gumbo while the Saints go 3 – 13 this year. The only thing that could make this more interesting is if you didn’t have a first rounder next year…….”‘
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Let’s see if you understand something. I bet you my car and my house the Saints finish better than 3-13.

Ya thatsright saints fans keep crying and claiming the glove didn’t fit. No integrity from the guilty players and now we have saints fans looking for loop holes to justify something happened. Plain and simple Williams admitted wrong doing of some kind, Payton admitted something…pretty sad argument saints fans. Blame it in Goodell all you want but the fact remains your players and coaches are guilty, the coaches would be battling to the death if they new they hasn’t been caught. Considering the coaches don’t play
The players have a voice and ultimately a choice and if the coaches arent denying it then how can the players deny it

Our culture today is more concerned with perception than truth. Honesty is in short supply with the public view. Its almost like over 1/2 of what we read are lies and 1/2 truths…..which is deception, related to lying.

Screw these guys. Take your medicine. If they resist, I hope the NFL has unseen ammo to blast these guys.

Its too bad….since the players are down the line from the coaches…..but I am bloody sick of the “deny, deny, deny….then when caught apologize and then later on….minimize and excuse” process we are consistently subjected to.

All this is is the NFLPA trying to pick the best time to muddy the water. You wonder why he waited to respond? How about he (and the NFLPA) know he is guilty, but they also both know a person is a lot more sympathetic after they have just been punished, rather than just after they have been accused of something ugly. These appeals will go nowhere. This is just the NFLPA’s way of trying to save face with it’s union members. They know they can’t win so they are going with the most logical course of action in trying to my confuse the general public into thinking these guys really aren’t bad guys, and get some pity on their side. Truth is… they did the crime and they should do the time.

As a Packers fan, Megatron is going to hurt us for years, but in no way do I want to see him get hurt! You become tje best by beating the best and by having the best players pkay the best, not taking out the other team’s best player!

The fact that he lied to the United States Congress about the prevalance of concussions in the NFL and participated in a cover-up of evidence that showed otherwise. This is all a matter of public record…..you know, unlike the bounty hearings in which no evidence whatsoever has been offered.

youallrfools says: May 2, 2012 7:18 PM
Do you think someone in the position of commish of one of the most the powerful organizations in American would just make it all up?

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He lied to a Congressional committee on head injuries to cover the league’s behind. It is not hard to believe he would work up trumped-up charges on a single team to deflect criticism from that, given that the NFL is facing billion dollar lawsuits from thousands of former players.

I won’t judge until the information is honestly put out. My one comment is. If you THE NFL accuse players in public and suspend them. You should make the facts of your finding public. At this point you ruin a players rep so you owe it to back the facts. You can’t make only the negative and not back them.

Ed werder and all u tainys fans r retarded if u think there was no bounty program in after 2009…. Ummm anyone who has a tv, radio ir internet heard 1st williams talk about intentionall injuring people and paying for it before their last game of 2011. What is wrong w u people… DONT DO THE CRIME IF U CANT SO THE TIME!!!!

youallrfools says: You’re going to have a lost season or two, your team should recover in a few years. You just won a super bowl. Be happy with what you’ve got. Us reasonable people know that swamp people won’t understand this though. Enjoy your gumbo while the Saints go 3 – 13 this year. The only thing that could make this more interesting is if you didn’t have a first rounder next year…….
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We’ll nevertheless continue to keep an open mind, and we hope that the evidence from both sides eventually will be available for public scrutiny. There’s simply no way of knowing who’s right and who’s wrong on this one without having some opportunity to objectively scrutinize the proof, or lack of it.
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Why does everyone here think they have the right to see the evidence? You want to see the evidence, join one of the legal teams.

That’s an insightful distinction by counsel Florio. I didn’t catch the distinction between “intended to pay” and “offered to pay”. I remember watching Vilma those first couple of seasons after they signed him, and thinking he was a total bad@ass, and a good signing. I have no doubt that there was a bounty program in New Orleans, but football’s a violence-oriented sport. Unfortunately (to me), it’s going to get softer, I think; especially in light of the Seau suicide.

To the people saying Goodell made this up—what planet are you on? Why would ANY CEO or head of a multi-billion dollar organization, let alone one of the most powerful men in sports, willingly make up something that would paint a marquee part of his organization, and by extension his entire organization, in a terrible light? There isn’t a CEO or Commissioner in world that would make something up to damage his organization and devalue it if he planned on sticking around. He’d be fired in a second. And why would Williams, Payton, and Hargrove all sign on stating this “lie” happened? What motivation would they have? Think for 2 seconds. The NFL gains nothing from a mountain of bad press, nothing by devaluing a franchise that’s currently has a nationwide fan-base, nothing for going after one of his 32 bosses, nothing by picking a huge fight with the NFLPA, and nothing by putting itself in line to get sued. To distract from concussions? You have to be kidding. One has precisely nothing to do with the other, and that one isn’t going away because of this. It’s piling on this. You guys are ridiculous.

The bounty program isn’t anywhere near as bad as some of the conspiracy theories being cooked up by some of the Saints fans. Give me a break–the NFL told your team way back to knock it off, they still did it. They’re paying the price. I’m sure Jerruh and Snyder will laugh at you thinking you’re being singled out. You have some scum coaches, some scum players who got caught and yet it’s all a fantasy? Until all this happens, the Saints are the “feel good” team for the average football watcher–and Goodell is just going to bury that team for no reason? OK…Suh didn’t stomp on anyone either. It was photoshopped.

“Show us the evidence Mr. Goodell. You cannot hide forever.”
Dislikes are about double the likes for this comment. Interesting that people aren’t really interested in finding out what really happened. They probably don’t want to think about why somebody would play dirty for $1000 while risking a league fine for around $20,000.

“Ed werder and all u tainys fans r retarded if u think there was no bounty program in after 2009…. Ummm anyone who has a tv, radio ir internet heard 1st williams talk about intentionall injuring people and paying for it before their last game of 2011. What is wrong w u people… DONT DO THE CRIME IF U CANT SO THE TIME!!!!”

To you I say… DON’T PLACE A COMMENT IF YOU CAN’T WRITE ABOVE A THIRD GRADE LEVEL

I had no problem with the Saints prior to watching them in 2009. I hate them now and will root against them every year no matter who they play. They continue to lie and lie. At least Gregg Williams FINALLY admitted the truth.

Why does everyone here think they have the right to see the evidence? You want to see the evidence, join one of the legal teams.
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The NFLPA legal team has not seen the evidence either, genius, nor have the accused.

Ed werder and all u tainys fans r retarded if u think there was no bounty program in after 2009…. Ummm anyone who has a tv, radio ir internet heard 1st williams talk about intentionall injuring people and paying for it before their last game of 2011. What is wrong w u people… DONT DO THE CRIME IF U CANT SO THE TIME!!!!
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What was that people were saying about the education system in Louisiana? This clown appears to be from Minnesota.

I think people need to go back and review what was actually said by all parties. The NFL’s statement is rather vague about went on in the three years. It states that there was a program for three years and in the program there were “two forms of improper payments”–the bounties and pay-for-performance. The two bounties that the NFL was aware of were Warner, Favre. NFL told them to cut the program and gave them warning. The NFL said the “program” continued into to 2011 season, though doesn’t state whether both “improper payments” continued. Make it what you think it is, not what the media makes it out to be. Neither GW or SP apologized for an existing bounty program, they both apologized for pay-for-performance–something the NFL itself has distinguished as being different than a bounty. Anyway, I honestly don’t think this is going to have a big effect on the saints; Vilma was out five games last year and they won them all without him. Plus, there have been some great free agent signings. I think some people are just mad that there weren’t more than two people suspended from the saints. Getting excited!!!